The
Halal and Haram of Food for Muslims

He has only forbidden you dead
meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that (any food, meat or not)
which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But if one is
forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, or transgressing due limits;
then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful. (Qur'an 2:173)

Forbidden are ONLY:

1.Dead
meat/animals.

2.Flesh/meat of the
pig. From 2:259, 16:14, 22:37 we understand that لَحْمَ refers to the flesh of the animal, not the
bones or blood. As bones are not edible and as blood is to be avoided,
this means that we should not eat anything from the pig.

3.(Running/flowing)
Blood.

4.Any food that is
dedicated to any other than Allah (before, during or after slaughter if it is
an animal).

a.Note that
this is not the same as saying that any food which is not dedicated to
Allah is forbidden. There are three possibilities in this situation: -

i.The
food is dedicated to Allah (by mentioning His name on it). This is the
best/recommended way.

ii.The
food is not dedicated to anything.

iii.The
food is dedicated to other than Allah. This is totally forbidden.

b.Had Allah stated
“and any food which is not dedicated to Allah”, then it would
imply that if the name of Allah is not taken in dedication (for example at
slaughter for animals), then it would be haram.

c.We must
again note here that it is ANY food and not just meat that is referred to here,
Allah is not short of words. What is being talked of here is the act of dedication
of any food to anyone other than Allah.

That is it, these are the 4 categories, and there are no
other categories. Hence anything else that appears in the Qur'an is a
subcategory to these.

Forbidden for you are carrion,
blood and pork, and what has been dedicated to other than Allah, and animals which have
been strangled, and animals which have
been killed by a blow, and animals which
have fallen to their death, and animals
which have been gored, and animals which wild beasts have eaten–except those you are able to slaughter properly–and
animals which have been sacrificed on altars, and deciding things by means of divining
arrows–that is deviance. Today those who disbelieve have despaired of
overcoming your religion. So do not be afraid of them but be afraid of Me.
Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My blessing upon you
and I am pleased with Islam as a religion for you. But if anyone is forced by
hunger, not intending any wrongdoing, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
(Qur'an 5:3)

Forbidden are animals that:

1.Are strangled to
death.

2.Are Beaten/Struck
until they are dead, refers generally (though not limited to) to a powerful
strike to the head.

3.Have fallen (or
are thrown) from a height (to their death).

4.Are gored (to
death).

5.Eaten (partially)
by other animals, except if they can be properly slaughtered before dying.

1-4 are under the category of carrion (dead animal(s)) and
its different forms. So this verse expands upon the term (الْمَيْتَةُ) by adding information on how the animal
may have died. However, if dead animals are generically forbidden, then
what is the purpose behind mentioning the specific categories above?
Simple, none of these mentioned methods or their equivalents can be used in any
part of its slaughter. Beating/striking, strangling, throwing from a
height or goring an animal to death makes it forbidden to eat.

They ask you what is lawful to them (as food). Say: lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure:
and what ye have taught your trained hunting animals
(to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah. Eat what they catch for you, and mention
the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah. For Allah is swift in
taking account. (Qur'an 5:4)

Lawful for us to eat are:

·All good things.

·What our trained animals have caught for us, over which we mention the
name of Allah.

oThis may be the only situation where eating something dead is allowed,
as it is dead due to your method of catching it. When hunting we cannot
guarantee that we can get our prey and that it will be alive.

So eat of that (any food,
meat or not) on which Allah's name has been mentioned, if ye have
faith in His signs. What is the matter with you that you do not eat that
over which the name of Allah has been mentioned?,
and He has made clear to you what He has made forbidden for you except when you
are forced to eat it. Many people lead others astray through their whims
and desires without having any knowledge. Your Lord knows best those who
overstep the limits. (Qur'an 6:118-119)

And do not eat from that
which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for it is
a transgression/sin. The Satans will reveal to their guided ones to argue
with you. If you obey them, you shall indeed become idolaters. (Qur'an
6:121)

a)We must
mention the name of Allah over any food we eat before eating, or know that this
act has been done at some point. Otherwise we transgress.[1]

b)The general
understanding (among Muslims) from Qur'an 6:118-119 and 121 is that this is
referring specifically to meat/animal. This is not the case though, as
Allah has not indicated this in these verses.

c)The term (ذُكِرَ) is used in 22:36 in reference to
mentioning Allah at the slaughter of the camels at Hajj. This would
indicate best practice for slaughter includes mentioning the name of Allah on
the animal before slaughter. This would fit in without contradiction with
the 4th category at the start of this section.

d)As all food must have
Allah’s name mentioned on it we can only be sure of this if we do it ourselves
at the time of eating, regardless of c). This is the only way we can
guarantee avoiding transgression.

As a result of the fact of the 4 categories mentioned at the
start of this section, we cannot add this as a requirement for what makes food
Halal. Rather we learn from this the command of Allah on what to say and
recall upon the mercy and gift that is food.

Say: ‘I do not find, in what has been revealed to me, any
food that is forbidden to eat except for carrion,
flowing blood or blood poured forth, and pork–for that is unclean–or some
deviance consecrated to other than Allah.
But if anyone is forced to eat it, without desiring to or going to excess in
it, your Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ (Qur'an 6:145)

Forbidden for us to eat is:

·Flowing blood.

·This clarified all the other verses, as it is obvious that we can never
get meat without blood, however we can aim to remove as much as we can of
flowing blood, that is, the blood that can be shed or poured forth at
slaughter.

The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the
symbols from Allah. in them is (much) good for you: then mention the name of Allah over them as they line up (for
sacrifice): when they are down on their sides
(after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live
in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals
subject to you, that ye may be grateful. (Qur'an 22:36)

As part of the rites of Hajj, when animals (e.g., Camels) are
to be slaughtered, we must mention the name of Allah over them before
slaughter. It is our intention in this act that reaches Allah, not the
meat. This is the best and recommended method for slaughtering the
animals. To be noted that this is the only place where mentioning the
name of Allah at slaughter is mentioned, it is within the context of Hajj
sacrifice.

Do not marry women of the
mushriks until they believe. A slave girl who is one of the believers is
better for you than a woman of the mushriks, even though she may attract you.
And do not marry men of the mushriks until they believe. A slave who is one of
the believers is better for you than a man of the mushriks, even though he may
attract you. Such people call you to the Fire whereas Allah calls you,
with His permission, to the Garden and forgiveness. He makes His Signs clear to
people so that hopefully they will pay heed. (2:221)

This verse makes clear that a Muslim, be it man or woman,
should not marry a mushrik until they believe. A slave/servant who is a
Muslim is superior to any mushrik.

Today all good things have been made lawful for you. And the food of those given the Book is also lawful
for you and your food is lawful for them. So are chaste women from among the
believers and chaste women of those given the
Book before you, once you have given them their dowries in marriage, not
in fornication or taking them as lovers. But as for anyone who rejects faith,
his actions will come to nothing and in the hereafter he will be among the
losers. (Qur'an 5:5)

There are 2 ways to interpret this exception: -

1.A major
exception.

2.No exception.

A Major Exception

In this approach we say that the exception given can fully
negate the prohibition against marrying mushriks and against eating food that
is not Qur'anically Halal.

This verse gives the Muslims two exceptions to the
rules on Haram and Halal in Food and on marriage to mushriks (and other than
(Muslim) believers). Because for sure the people of the book have
committed shirk and for sure their food is not Islamically Halal based upon the
verses present in the section “The Halal and Haram of Food for Muslims”.
It is likely that the allowances in this verse are due to the fact that they
would allow for Muslims to deal more easily with them and allow for easier da'wah.
This would mean that we can better visit with and eat with them (and them with
us), and marry their women and hence create ties with them. What other
reason(s) could there be for such allowances? And Allah knows best.

No Exception

In this approach we say that no exception is given in either
the food or the marriage to mushriks. So we interpret this ayah in a
manner which is in full harmony with both the Qur'anic guidelines of Halal food
and with the guideline of not marrying mushriks and marrying believers[4].

The 1st issue is that it is
not possible to marry of the People of the Book without contravening the
guidance of not marrying mushriks and marrying believers. Because note,
Allah says that any who do not judge by what has been revealed, are
disbelievers. The Jews and Christians are for sure disbelievers and they
are for sure Mushriks.

The 2nd issue is that as
the people of the book as a generality are mushriks and disbelievers in the correct
revelation, how can we expect them to have the exact same practice as us in
regards to food? The reality is that mostly, it is not. To say that
their food is only Halal to us if they do it exactly like we do is to say
“Although Allah has allowed us the food of the People of the Book, (knowing
their deviance and error in deen) in reality we cannot eat it”. Who knows
best in this regard? Allah or some Muslims?

However, as always, we must avoid what is harmful, no matter
who produces it. And Allah knows best.

But because of their (Jews) breaking of their covenant,
We have cursed them and made their
hearts hard. They distort the true meaning of
words and have forgotten a good portion of what they were reminded of.
You will never cease to come upon some act of
treachery on their part,except for a
few of them. Yet pardon them, and overlook. Allah loves good-doers.
(5:13)

We also made a covenant with those who say, ‘We are
Christians,’ and they too forgot a good portion
of what they were reminded of. So We stirred up enmity and hatred
between them until the Day of Rising when Allah will inform them about what
they did. (5:14)

Those who say, ‘Allah is the
Messiah, son of Maryam,’ are disbelievers. Say: ‘Who possesses any power
at all over Allah if He desires to destroy the Messiah, son of Maryam, and his
mother, and everyone else on earth?’ The kingdom of the heavens and the earth
and everything between them belongs to Allah. He creates whatever He wills.
Allah has power over all things. (5:17)

Those who say that the
Messiah, son of Maryam, is Allah are disbelievers. The Messiah said,
‘Tribe of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. If anyone associates anything with Allah, Allah has forbidden him the
Garden and his refuge will be the Fire.’ The wrongdoers will have
no helpers. (5:72)

The Jews say, ‘‘Uzayr is the son of Allah,’ and the Christians
say, ‘The Messiah is the son of Allah.’ That is what they say with their
mouths, copying the words of those who disbelieved before. Allah fought them! How perverted they are! (9:30)

They have taken their rabbis
and monks as lords besides Allah, and also the Messiah, son of Maryam.
Yet they were commanded to worship only one God. There is no god but Him! Glory be to Him above anything they associate with
Him! (9:31)

In short, the selection of verses presented in this section
and other verses demonstrate the following points:

·Both the groups have joined lords with Allah (shirk).

·Both are described as disbelievers.

·Both have lost and/or corrupted their revelation and do not follow what
was revealed.

·Jews are treacherous and are big enemies to Muslims.

Now to the best of our knowledge the Bible as is available
today, is pretty much the same as it was back in the time of the Qur'an's
revelation. So Qur'an 5:5 is a general statement that is for all time.

But say not - for any false thing that your tongues may put
forth,- "This is lawful, and this is forbidden," so as to ascribe
false things to Allah. For those who
ascribe false things to Allah, will never prosper. (Qur'an 16:116)

Say: 'have you considered the provision that Allah has sent
down for you, and some you have made unlawful
and some lawful? ' say: 'has Allah given you his permission, or do you forge (falsehood) against Allah? '
(Qur'an 10:59)

O Prophet! Why do you forbid that which Allah has made lawful
to you? You seek to please your consorts. But Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful. (Qur'an 66:1)

We have no authority; indeed the Prophet has no authority to
make what is Halal Haram nor to make what is Haram Halal. Doing so it is
a serious sin and it must be avoided. In fact, 16:116 comes
directly after the following verse: -

He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh
of swine, and any (food) which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But if
one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due
limits,- then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Qur'an 16:115)

So its context is specifically that of food!

Discussion
of Qur'an 5:5

The key verse around which an understanding must be built is
(Qur'an 5:5):

Today all good things have
been made lawful for you. And the food
of those given the Book is also lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. So are chaste
women from among the believers and chaste women
of those given the Book before you, once you have given them their
dowries in marriage, not in fornication or taking them as lovers. But as for
anyone who rejects faith, his actions will come to nothing and in the hereafter
he will be among the losers. (Qur'an 5:5)

The questions here are:

1.What is meant by
“All good things have been made lawful for you”?

2.What is meant by
“the food of those given the Book” with respect to the issue of Halal and Haram
food for Muslims?

All Good Things Have Been Made Lawful for You

This means that any food or drink which has no intrinsic harm
to it or extrinsic evil to it is acceptable for us to eat or drink.

By intrinsic harm I mean any food or drink which is known to
produce negative consequences either physically or emotionally/mentally by its
very nature. In the case of meat, then for Muslims this means proper
slaughter of any meat except what is forbidden (pork, carrion). By
extrinsic evil I mean that food acquired by forbidden means such as
exploitation, robbery, the changing of the fundamental nature of what Allah has
created[5]
or food dedicated to idols.

·All grazing livestock, except for what is forbidden, are allowed in
Qur'an 5:1.

·Products of the Earth in Qur'an 2:168.

·Fruit in Qur'an 6:141.

The
Food of Those Given the Book

The first question that can be asked is “What is the food that the Jews can eat and what is the
food that the Christians can eat?”.

The Jews have laws similar to those in the Qur'an, however
Allah added some more regulations to punish them and some they made up
themselves[6].
They have similar rules regarding slaughter methods and have more rules for
what exactly can and cannot be eaten. And the religious Jews follow these
rules. However let us recall their disbelief and their joining partners
with Allah, so just because their methods of slaughter may be similar, does not
mean it is religiously equivalent to Islamic slaughter.

Neither Jews nor Christians require the recitation of the
name of Allah at slaughter as far as I know.

The Christians however seem to have more lax rules[7]. In the New Testament there are
some verses which (supposedly) indicate that the Old Testament Laws are to be
kept and other (and more numerous) verses which (supposedly) indicate that the
Old Testament Laws are to be left behind.

However most Christians have followed the opinion that all
foods are acceptable while a minority have followed some[8] or all Old Testament regulations[9]. But it must be noted, that
the vast majority of Christians from everyday follower to Priests and Bishops
eat pretty much any food, nowadays and in the past.

These are the reasons why Allah has to make the exception
specifically in (Qur'an 5:5), namely, this exception is unnecessary if
the food they eat (or how they slaughter) was exactly like the Muslim food (and
slaughter method). So it must be recognised that the food of the People
of the Book is not and need not be like the food of Muslims. Note in this
regard that Allah simultaneously made the exception of allowing marriage to the
women of the People of the Book, even though we have iron clad Qur'anic proof
that they practice shirk. And just as no qualification is made for the
women (other than they are chaste/free women), there is no qualification made
for the food.

The main question on which some precision is needed is this,
what does the following phrase “the food of those given the Book” mean?
Does it mean:

1.The food that
they should be eating, that is, if they were
properly following what was initially revealed to them (but which no longer
exists)?

2.The food that
they are religiously allowed to eat based upon their general understanding of
what they have (from 7th century to now) of
their 'revelation' which may not correspond with 1 above?

3.Is it food that
is prepared and served by them?

4.The food that
they themselves produce (regardless if 1 or 2 is correct), I.e., is it food
produced from the raw ingredients? In terms of meat, did they slaughter
the animal?

Now from the verses in the “The People of the Book and their
Religion/Belief” section and other verses, we can see that the Jews and
Christians have left/lost a good part of what they were given and that they are
mostly disbelievers and mushriks. This was even back at the time of the
prophet in the 6th/7th century, where their beliefs were pretty much
what they are now. This is at the same time that Allah has allowed us
their women for marriage and their food.

Now in (Qur'an 5:5) Allah makes no distinctions in referring
to the people of the Book, the ruling is generic in nature and it includes
knowledge of their religious and textual corruption. However, given that
they are referred to as the People of the Book, we must assume that they are
believers who believe in the revelation that they have with them.

Knowing these facts, the 2nd
option above would make the most sense between the 1st
and 2nd options. The final
question therefore is on whether one or both of the 3rd and 4th
options is correct.

The best way to understand the phrase “the food of
those given the Book” would be a combination of the 2nd and 4th
options above as the exception is specific to those given the Book.
Namely, we can eat food produced by the Jews and Christians in the
manner they find religiously acceptable. This means that we have
an exception here in that even if they produce meat in a manner not sanctioned
by the Qur'an, as long as it is (or is acceptable in) their religious custom,
we are allowed it.

The second best way to understand the phrase “the food
of those given the Book” would be a combination of the 2nd and 3rd
options. Namely, we can eat food prepared and served by the Jews
and Christians in the manner they find religiously acceptable even if they
did not produce it. This means that we have an exception here in that
even if they prepare and serve meat in a manner not sanctioned by the Qur'an,
as long as it is (or is acceptable in) their religious custom, we are allowed
it.

If only the 2nd option is
considered and the 4th and 3rd is ignored, then by extension we can also eat
any food that they themselves find acceptable, which they did not produce or
prepare and serve and which may contravene the Qur'anic standard of Halal and
Haram. The implication of this is that the exception of Qur'an 5:5 is
extended to all groups. Thus nullifying the Qur'anic guidelines on
acceptable food to a large extent. This is not acceptable.

However, let’s look at the implications if the 3rd option is rejected (the second best way) so that
only the 2nd and 4th
options (the best way) for the meaning of “the food of those given the Book” is
accepted. These implications are:

·Muslims can only eat food which the People of the Book produce (how we
could confirm this fact (even if Christians or Jews are serving it to us), in
the current environment is an issue!).

·Therefore Muslims can realistically no longer eat with Christians (and
Jews) without wondering if the food was prepared by one who is not of the
People of the Book. As what is the practice now and has been for quite a
long time (back to even before the 6th century for Christians[10]) is that Christians regularly eat the
food produced by non Christians. This practice now exists to a much
lesser extent among the Jews too, although it is not supposed to[11].

Given the fact that the only way to understand the exception
of Qur'an 5:5 in a way that allows it to:

·Be generally applicable from its time of revelation for the rest of
time.

·Fulfil its (assumed) function of allowing for easier interaction between
Muslims and the People of the Book.

Is to accept the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
options. So that if any of the following combinations hold: -

·2nd, 3rd and 4th (Best)

·2nd and 4th (Second best)

·2nd and 3rd (Third best)

Then the
food is acceptable.

What
Secular Slaughter Methods are Acceptable?

There are 2 main issues to consider in this analysis:-

1.Does the animal
die before it is slaughtered?

2.How is the animal
subdued before or at slaughter?

There are 3 (maybe more) major categories of slaughter
methods: -

1.Captive Bolt Gun
stunning followed by slaughter and bleeding.

a.The bolt
gun rapidly penetrates the skull and then retracts out of the head. Supposedly[12] this stuns, not kills, the animal.

b.Used mostly with
cattle and large animals like oxen. Used with sheep and pigs also.

2.Electric stunning
followed by slaughter and bleeding.

a.Used with
sheep, poultry and pigs.

3.Gassing to lose
consciousness followed by slaughter and bleeding.

a.Used with
pigs and poultry.

Generally, cows and other large livestock such as bison and
maybe horses are slaughtered with Captive Bolt Guns. However sheep, lamb
and goat can also be 'stunned' in this way. This method can damage the skull
and can pierce the brain, potentially pushing it into the blood stream.
The animal will die if this is properly done, after how long is variable.
May be possible to slaughter before death, though may be possible not to.
However, as this would fall under the category of an animal being killed by a
blow (to the head). This meat is Haram because: -

1.The method of
stunning kills the animal.

2.The method of
stunning/killing the animal falls under the category of being killed by a blow.

The electric stunning method comes in two major forms: -

1.Head only
stunning

2.Cardiac arrest
stunning which stops the heart.

a.Stunning
baths are used with poultry and are designed to cause cardiac arrest.

The only method which may be allowable, though not
recommended is head-only stunning because:

1.It does not kill
the animal; rather the animal can revive from it.

2.It does not fall
directly under any of the forbidden killing categories.

CO2 or Argon/Nitrogen gassing is used to knock out
both pigs and poultry. The CO2 method seems to/can cause some
agitation as animals can have sensors for increased levels of this gas; however
the Argon/Nitrogen method seems to cause less as animals have no receptors for
these gasses. In reality this method is about suffocating the animal,
with the Argon/Nitrogen method potentially making it like 'going to sleep' more
so than 'can't breathe'. However this method can be better than
pre-stunning/stunning in terms of stress. If suffocation is painful or
torturous to the animal, then it is forbidden. In summary: -

·If this method works by just putting the animal to sleep or an
unconscious state without torturing it with suffocation, then it can be
acceptable.

·If it however this tortures and painfully suffocates the animal, then it
is Haram.

1.Muslims must
follow the regulations set out in the Qur'an with food, they cannot follow the
customs of anyone else when they slaughter meat and produce food.

2.Muslims can eat
food that is produced by and/or prepared and served by the People of the Book.

3.Food prepared by
Muslims is always preferable.

The conclusion on the women of the People of the Book issue
is this: -

1.Muslims can marry
Chaste and free Jewish or Christian women and give them their proper dues.

2.Muslim women are
always preferable.

The conclusion on the stunning issue is this: -

1.The only
tolerable method of electric stunning is the head-only stunning used with
sheep.

2.Gas stunning, if
done correctly may also be a tolerable method of stunning.

[1]
At this juncture note that this is not the same as dedication of the meat
before/during/at slaughter (and any food in general) to someone/something.
The term for dedication that is used is (أُهِلَّ) whereas here what is used in Qur’an
6:118-121 is (ذُكِرَ) which is to mention.

[2]Refer
to section “All Good Things Have Been Made Lawful for You” for more on this point.

[3]Refer
to section “All Good Things Have Been Made Lawful for You” for more on this
point.

[4]The
general impression given in the Qur'an is that Muslims should marry Muslims,
unless some fahisha/fornication/adultery or the like takes place.

[5]And
most certainly I will lead them astray and excite in them vain desires, and bid
them so that they shall slit the ears of the
cattle, and most certainly I will bid them so that they shall alter Allah's creation; and whoever takes the
Shaitan for a guardian rather than Allah he indeed shall suffer a manifest
loss. (Qur'an 4:119)

[6]Found
mostly in Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, other made up rulings
found in the Talmud.

[7]Interestingly
though, Acts 15:29 indicates that Christians should avoid blood, strangled
animals and meats offered or dedicated to idols. “That ye abstain from meats
offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from
fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well” (Acts
15:29). This is probably the only bit of direct New Testament guidance on
the issue of eating meat, however it is not alleged to be the actual words of
Jesus.

[9]There
is at least one sect in Christianity that accepts the Old Testament rulings on
diet, and this is the Seventh Day Adventists.

[10]“23)"Everything
is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but
not everything is constructive. 24) Nobody should seek his own good, but the
good of others. 25) Eat anything sold in the meat market without
raising questions of conscience, 26) for, "The earth is the Lord's,
and everything in it." 27) If some unbeliever invites you to a meal
and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of
conscience. 28) But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in
sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you
and for conscience' sake 29) the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For
why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? 30) If I take part in
the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God
for? 31) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for
the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:23-31 (NIV)

[11]Where
a Kosher slaughter house would hire non-Jewish labour to do the job.
Unbeknownst to the general populace.

[12]“Practical
experience in slaughter plants indicates that cattle shot correctly with a
penetrating captive bolt have irreversible damage to their brain and they will
not revive.” from http://www.grandin.com/humane/cap.bolt.tips.html
. In reality this means the animal is killed by the blow.